The Walking Dead Review: Thank You (Season 6 Episode 3)

Well, folks. We are having one hell of a week here in The Walking Dead fandom, thanks to the inappropriately titled third episode of this season, “Thank You”.

Because, seriously? No thank you, The Walking Dead!

Let’s just… get right in to it, shall we? Right into the nitty gritty, here:

In light of Glenn’s “death” (yes, we’re putting that in quotations because let’s not put it past The Walking Dead to pull a massive fake-out on us, here. Multiple other sites are calling the show’s bluff, so we’re jumping right on that bandwagon), let’s spend this time having a rousing discussion about heroism — which, more or less, seems to be the theme of this week’s episode.

In one corner, we have Rick Grimes — the series’ main protagonist. By the obligations vested in him by his lead role, he is the hero of this story. In many ways, Rick is a hero, there’s no doubt about that. However, he is a unique brand of hero. He is a realist. He is a bit of a cynic, too, when you really think about it. Rick has become something of an anti-hero.

What’s really interesting and unique about Rick’s brand of heroism is that he is never unrealistic in his attempts to do right by his people and keep them safe. If someone or something is a lost cause, Rick can and will admit that. He will make the hard choices and leave people for dead — hell, he’d kill them himself if he had to, without even flinching. This week, he tells Michonne and Glenn to leave the others behind if necessary because Rick knows that not everyone is going to get back to Alexandria alive. That’s not how their world works. He has seen and been through far too much to be naive enough to believe that everyone could survive their current predicament.

In the other corner, we have Glenn Rhee, who is self-sacrificial and optimistic. Glenn is what you would normally want and expect from a hero. He’s kind, he’s brave, he’s selfless — he has all the makings of a textbook hero.

However, as we have learned time and time again from this series, optimism and bravery are a dangerous combination, and the results don’t always come out in the hero’s favor. In fact, more often than not, just the opposite has been proven over and over again. Rick knows it, Michonne knows it (and actually gives a beautiful monologue in Rick’s defense regarding that subject, which is just outstanding and deserves a shout out), but Glenn is not always willing to admit defeat, to leave a man behind. It’s just not who he is, and in the end, his humanity may have cost him his life.

If he could have done things Rick’s way and left the wounded behind (keep in mind that two of them still end up dead, despite his best efforts to save everyone), would Glenn have survived? Would more of their group have made it?

Possibly. Sacrifice the few to save the many and all that…

Rick is a hero when it makes sense, when he knows it can be done. He has learned to recognize a lost cause when he sees one. As harsh as his words and methods seem to those who haven’t been there and don’t understand, his cutthroat, realistic outlook on survival and heroics have saved his people more often than not. There is a reason those who are with him are so loyal and trusting of him.

Rick knows what he’s doing.

And, with things looking pretty bleak for our anti-hero next week, let’s hope we’re right to have faith in Rick’s ability to survive.

We should also keep our fingers crossed for Glenn’s (safe) return.

Seriously, this season is relentless.  It’s incredible.

What did you think of this week’s episode? What’s your take on Glenn’s fate? Is he alive? Dead? Undead? Let me know in the comments below!

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The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9/8c on AMC.